With every medical appointment and lab procedure, patient data is collected and sent to insurance companies in the complex language of medical codes. As the health industry prepares to experience rapid growth over the next 10 years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 30,000 new medical coding and billing jobs to open up. To qualify for a position in medical coding and billing, an associate's degree is usually recommended. In addition, earning Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification could open even more doors.